News in October
- Reprogramming of immune cells shown to fight off melanoma 31 October 2022 A new way of reprogramming our immune cells to shrink or kill off cancer cells has been shown to work in the otherwise hard to treat and devastating skin cancer, melanoma. The University of Bristol-led discovery, published in Advanced Science today [31 October], demonstrates a new way to clear early stage pre-cancerous and even late-stage tumour cells.
- NASA detects stunning meteoroid impact on Mars 27 October 2022 NASA’s InSight lander recorded a magnitude 4 marsquake on Christmas Eve, 2021, but scientists learned only later from orbiter images the cause of that quake: a meteoroid strike estimated to be one of the biggest seen on Mars since NASA began exploring the cosmos. What’s more, it excavated boulder-sized chunks of water ice buried closer to the Martian equator than ever found before – a discovery that has implications for NASA’s future plans to send astronauts to the Red Planet.
- Scientists detect seismic surface waves on planet other than Earth for first time 27 October 2022 Following two large meteorite impacts on Mars, researchers have observed, for the first time, seismic waves propagating along the surface of a planet other than Earth. The data from the marsquakes was recorded by NASA’s InSight lander and analysed at ETH Zurich in collaboration with the InSight Science Team, revealing new details about the structure of Mars’ crust.
- Concern over unregulated high street health checks that may be putting extra pressure on the NHS 27 October 2022 An investigation by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), highlights companies are offering private blood tests for a range of conditions and deficiencies, with some making misleading claims, not backed by evidence, and leaving an already overworked NHS to follow up “abnormal results". In a linked opinion article, experts from the Universities of Bristol and St Andrews highlight several areas of concern and argue that private blood testing companies need clear regulation to prevent more poor quality, over-hyped testing with harms to individuals and unnecessary costs for the NHS.
- Bristol grad is now full-time skeleton athlete with Olympic dreams 27 October 2022 A Bristol graduate has swapped the hush of the University’s Law Library for high-octane sled races down icy tracks.
- Enterprising Women reopens for third year providing free business support for women 26 October 2022 SETsquared Bristol, the University of Bristol-led tech incubator, has opened applications for Enterprising Women 3.0, a supportive and inclusive business support programme to help women take their business or idea to the next stage.
- Bristol jumps in global subject rankings by Times Higher Education 25 October 2022 Several subjects taught at the University of Bristol have jumped higher in the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject.
- Insects affect electric fields in the atmosphere, researchers find 24 October 2022 The electric charge of insects can cause changes in the electricity of the atmosphere which are comparable with weather processes, researchers at the University of Bristol and University of Reading have found.
- Philip Leverhulme Prizes awarded to three University of Bristol academics 21 October 2022 Three academics from the University of Bristol have been awarded prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prizes.
- Dr Amber Young, 1963-2022 20 October 2022 Dr Amber Young, Honorary Professor of Burns Care at the University of Bristol, died peacefully at home on 17 September 2022 after suffering for a long time with breast cancer. Professor Jane Blazeby and colleagues in Bristol offer a remembrance.
- Bristol researchers help disadvantaged local families make their voices heard through power of art 20 October 2022 A community initiative supported by the University of Bristol working with families from one of the most deprived areas in the region has resulted in a new campaign calling for parents’ experience and expertise to be more valued and their voices to be better heard.
- Jaws drop for Bristol student on ITV’s The Voice 20 October 2022 University of Bristol student Kai Benjamin may only be 19, but this weekend he will perform in front of millions of people.
- Timely study on rising groundwater offers hope for drought-stricken East Africa 19 October 2022 New research indicates better groundwater supply management could hold the key to help combat the impact of climate change in East Africa, where countries are currently facing the worst drought and food insecurity in a generation.
- Sexual health test vending machines launch in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire 19 October 2022 New vending machines offering free sexual health testing kits have been launched in four venues across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire by Unity Sexual Health, the sexual health service led by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.
- Hundreds of historical wildlife films dating back to the 19th Century have been preserved in archive 19 October 2022 Recordings of a boxing kangaroo, decoy gull heads and an experiment in high definition video are among nearly 300 natural history films digitised as part of the ‘Making Wildfilm History Archive Project’.
- Good Grief announces first mini-festival about ‘Grief + Memory’ 18 October 2022 Good Grief's first mini-festival – exploring 'Grief + Memory'- will take place next week [Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October] with a number of live and on-demand virtual events.
- BBC documentary highlights new initiative to increase diversity of school curriculum 18 October 2022 A new BBC documentary has shone the light on an important educational project which aims to tackle the lack of representation in the school curriculum.
- Gambling needs more holistic management to reduce harm when it causes debt, new research suggests 18 October 2022 Gambling treatment and support services need to dovetail better with debt advice, to ensure recovery pathways for people affected by gambling harm are more likely to succeed, according to a new report by the University of Bristol.
- Pioneering research directly dates the earliest milk use in prehistoric Europe 17 October 2022 A new study has shown milk was used by the first farmers from Central Europe in the early Neolithic era around 7,400 years ago, advancing humans’ ability to gain sustenance from milk and establishing the early foundations of the dairy industry.
- Bristol signs MoU with new and pioneering Indian University 17 October 2022 The University of Bristol has signed a formal partnership with one of India’s newest and most exciting universities, offering a wealth of opportunities for research, teaching and student mobility.
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre funded for another five years 14 October 2022 The National Institute for Health and Care Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC) has been awarded nearly £12 million of new funding for the next five years. The funding has been awarded to University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust by the NIHR, with the University of Bristol a major partner.
- Eco-labels on menu options prompt diners to make more sustainable choices, new research finds 12 October 2022 A first-of-its-kind study has shown adding eco-friendly ratings on menu items results in diners making choices which are kinder to the environment.
- Artwork delves into history of innovation in St Philips 12 October 2022 A new artwork embracing the industrial and societal history of the new home for the University of Bristol’s first research hub in Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus was launched yesterday (Tuesday 11 October).
- Bristol leaps 16 places in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 12 October 2022 The University of Bristol has risen 16 places in the THE (Times Higher Education) World University Rankings 2023.
- Restart a Heart 2022 11 October 2022 The public will be able to pick-up essential life-saving skills due to the initiative of students from the University of Bristol, working closely with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston on several sessions. Free CPR training sessions in Broadmead, the University Campus, and two Bristol hospitals will be held over the course of a week.
- Bristol researchers make important breakthrough in quantum computing 11 October 2022 Researchers from the University of Bristol, quantum start-up, Phasecraft and Google Quantum AI have revealed properties of electronic systems that could be used for the development of more efficient batteries and solar cells.
- Bristol historian takes to stage for public lecture shedding light on BBC's past achievements and future challenges in celebration of its centenary 10 October 2022 Next Tuesday will mark exactly 100 years since the BBC was founded and a public lecture is being held in Bristol charting its acclaimed history and future challenges.
- Student’s incredible journey to find cure for dad’s terminal disease 10 October 2022 A student who aged just 11 vowed to find a cure for his father’s terminal heart disorder will next week begin a PhD researching cardiac disease treatments – and he’s not stopping there.
- Ratio shift of protein in brain cells causes changes underlying early cognitive decline, new discovery shows 10 October 2022 Early cognitive decline may result from a shift in the ratio of a protein sub-type in our brain cells triggering cell-loss. This new study, published in Scientific Reports, shows how this might be caused. The discovery provides a new therapeutic target to prevent the onset of neurodegenerative diseases including dementia and Alzheimer’s.
- 700 student athletes take part in University’s biggest ever preseason 6 October 2022 Some 700 student athletes from dozens of sports took part in the University’s biggest ever preseason training camp.
- South West requires more investment to reach Net Zero, according to latest report unveiled by Pro Vice-Chancellor 6 October 2022 Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Phil Taylor joined a panel of experts at the Conservative Party Conference to discuss driving economic growth and a Net Zero future in the South West.
- Statement: decision to seek leave to appeal the Abrahart judgement 6 October 2022 The family of Natasha Abrahart, a 20-year-old Physics student who very sadly took her own life in April 2018, brought a civil action against the University of Bristol. A judgement, handed down on 20 May by His Honour Judge Ralton at Bristol County Court, found the University was not negligent, but deemed the adjustments made by the University for Natasha’s academic assessment were insufficient.
- Findings from one of the largest consultations on UK bereavement support published 6 October 2022 New findings from one of the largest ever consultations on bereavement support in the UK have been published today by the UK Commission on Bereavement (UKCB). The research, which involved University of Bristol academics, shows around 750,000 excess bereavements occurred during the pandemic in the UK.
- Seaweed-based battery powers confidence in sustainable energy storage 5 October 2022 Bristol-led team uses nanomaterials made from seaweed to create a strong battery separator, paving the way for greener and more efficient energy storage.
- Bristol physicists play key role in new measurement relating the Higgs boson to dark matter 4 October 2022 Researchers from the University of Bristol have been working with scientists globally to further unravel the way a unique fundamental particle, known as the Higgs boson, might interact with dark matter.
- Continuity of care associated with improved prescribing for patients at risk of heart disease 4 October 2022 People at risk of heart disease are more likely to be prescribed relevant medications if they see the same GP over time (known as continuity of care) but not more likely to take their medications (known as adherence), according to researchers at the University of Bristol.
- Seven pioneering University of Bristol spinouts raise £20M 4 October 2022 Sugar dots to supercharge photosynthesis, a quantum camera and a genuinely ground-breaking probiotic are among the Bristol innovations that have attracted over £19 million in investment over the past nine months.
- Superstar staff member: from non-runner to marathon finisher in two years 3 October 2022 A University staffer who “couldn’t run for 10 seconds” just two years ago has completed the London Marathon.
- Blood thinning drugs before removing a clot in stroke patients improves death rates at 90 days, study finds 3 October 2022 A new systematic review and meta-analysis by an international group of researchers has found giving a blood thinning drug (thrombolysis) before treatment to remove a clot from the brain - known as thrombectomy procedure - to stroke patients, improved mortality rates at 90 days, compared with just thrombectomy procedure alone.
- Jurassic ichthyosaurs divided food resources to co-exist, researchers find 3 October 2022 Early Jurassic ichthyosaur juveniles show predatory specialisations, scientists at the University of Bristol have revealed.
